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Each Student Successful1 Each Student Successful: Exploring Policies to Address Health Disparities and the Academic Achievement Gap You cannot educate a child who is not healthy and you cannot keep a child healthy who is not educated. – Dr. J. Elders

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Each Student Successful2 Session Objectives Discover the relationship between health and learning for those students impacted by both health disparities and the academic achievement gap. Discuss the applicability of policy and program approaches that address the needs of the whole child.

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Each Student Successful3 Why it is important: You cannot educate a child who is not healthy and you cannot keep a child healthy who is not educated. – Dr. J. Elders

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Each Student Successful4 What we know: The one social factor that researchers agree is consistently linked to longer lives in every country where it has been studied is education. It is more important than race; it obliterates any effects of income. New York Times Culturally appropriate school programs that address risk behaviors among youth, especially when coordinated with community efforts, could improve the health of populations at risk for health disparities, and the health of the nation as a whole. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

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6 A Summit to Consider… Which students are disproportionately affected by the academic achievement gap and health disparities--and why. What we know about programs and policies that can positively impact both health and learning. What strategies and partners are needed to work on closing these gaps. What messages are needed to help us reach a common understanding of the issues and solutions.

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Each Student Successful21 A Few Considerations in Planning Health Disparity/Academic Achievement Gap Interventions Within race/ethnic groups (esp. Asian/Pacific Islander grouping), youth can be quite different from each other with regard to risks Interventions planned to address health disparities among students of color need to be culturally competent

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Each Student Successful22 Impacting Health and Learning: Some programs and policies to consider Universal breakfast programs Coordinated school health School based health centers Lifeskills Health Education Youth Development Discipline policies Focus on learning, not just test scores

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Each Student Successful23 Programs and Policies that Have Proven Effective An Example: School Connectedness (n.) The belief by students that adults and peers in the school care about their learning as well as about them as individuals.

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Each Student Successful25 …and better health outcomes Adolescents who feel connected to school are less likely to Exhibit disruptive or violent behavior Carry or use a weapon Engage in early-age sexual intercourse Consider or attempt suicide Experiment with illegal substances or drink to the point of getting drunk Smoke cigarettes Be emotionally distressed

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Each Student Successful27 State Policy Impacting School Health Policy SB 5093-Cover All Kids Bill Goals for 2010… –All school districts to have School Health Advisory Councils –All schools to meet defined nutrition standards –Ensure that PE staff are certified and minute requirements are met

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Each Student Successful28 Programs and Policies that Have Proven Effective-Coordinated School Health

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Each Student Successful29 Opportunities for Involvement in Coordinated School Health Activate youth in Coordinated School Health promotion and Wellness Committees Washington Health Foundation Healthiest State in the Nation and Health Bowl School Recognition (www.whf.org)www.whf.org Educate local administrators with resources from www.healthyschoolswa.org www.healthyschoolswa.org

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Each Student Successful30 Discussion-Sharing Our Experiences and Successes How have you used local health data? Have you implemented policies and/or programs to address both health and learning? Have you implemented these specifically to meet the needs of students of color? Have you articulated a framework or direction for addressing the needs of the whole child?

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Each Student Successful31 Summary Health and education are linked –Health disparities and the educational achievement gap are linked Strategies to address health disparities and the educational achievement gap include: –Collaborate across sectors –Implement a coordinated approach to school health –Address root causes such as school connectedness

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Each Student Successful32 Challenge to Health & Education Balance our traditional roles with innovative community based approaches. Agree on a frame work for policy change. Have one voice. –Dr. Maxine Hayes; Each Student Successful Keynote